Punjab Bandh - August 13 – Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlakabad – An Open Letter – 2

Punjab Bandh - August 13 – Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlakabad – An Open Letter – 2

Dear All,

I wrote an open letter on August 11 on the demolition of Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlakabad in Delhi as a curtain raiser of the protests against the said demolition by the followers of Guru Ravidass. First of all, as the situation unfolded itself, it is a matter of gratification to note that the demolition of the mandir of the great guru has been taken seriously by the community and by the wide political and social spectrum around except by some narrow-minded and politically motivated voices who were found lacking in understanding the issue or their political constraints. Even some highly placed people, including a junior Minister at the Center found faults with the management of the Tughlakabad Mandir and others who tended to raise the banner of protest. The leadership of BJP could not come around and stand by the community as the mandir belonged to Guru Ravidass, a nobody in the caste hierarchy and the fact that the decision makers in Delhi to demolish the mandir were no others but their political masters. The upper-caste Hindu community, in spite of the fact that the followers of Guru Ravidass are mostly Hindus, as usual, was found disinterested or even disdainful. The caste system which was an anathema to Guru Ravidass and is unlawful and undesirable under the constitution of India, it seems is still at work.  It is unfortunate. I think the community will certainly take note of this and respond in due course. CM of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh took due note of the situation and tried to assuage the ruffled feelings of the community and promised to take up the matter with the concerned authorities in Delhi. President of Akali Dal Sukhbir Badal and the Sikh community at large not only condemned the demolition but also showed their willingness to take up the matter with the concerned Minister Hardip Puri and PM Narendra Modi. It has also been

Protest dharna at Bootan Mandi Jalandhar

reported that SGPC has condemned the demolition of the temple.  Even the Punjab Chapter of the RSS came out with a statement and expressed its displeasure on the said demolition at Tughlakabad.  It would have been good if RSS should have taken a strong and clear stand on the issue and advised the government to desist from the uncalled for and undesirable demolition at Tughlakabad in persuasion of their professed agenda of “Samrasta”. I think, it is still a long way to go in shedding the inherit feeling of social discrimination. 

It is a matter of further satisfaction that the successful bandh, as I write at about 2 in the afternoon of August 13, is by and large peaceful and conforms to the democratic norms of protest and disagreement except some violent happenings at Mukerian in Hoshiarpur. I take this opportunity to appreciate and congratulate the protesters - followers of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar and their supporters from the society at large for their good conduct and praiseworthy demonstration as law-abiding citizens. I feel the Administration in Punjab was also fully geared and alert to ward off any untoward incident. I was told that the concerned law and order authorities took into confidence all the stake holders including the Guru Ravidass Deras to manage and control the situation. I must hasten to add that the government and the concerned authorities should not take these positive signs lightly in taking the decisions and undoing the damage of the said demolition. It may be a proverbial ‘lull before the storm’, if the authorities fail to understand the issue and redress the grievances of the community with regard to the Tughlakabad Mandir of Guru Ravidass. It is a matter of great worry and concern that the mainstream media has totally ignored the issue in spite of the fact that the mandir was located in the capital city of Delhi. Some days ago when a small and nondescript mandir  near Jama Masjid in old Delhi  was allegedly desecrated, all the national TV channels were making loud but uncalled for noises and were falling on each other to demonstrate their concern for the secular character of the country and their soft attitude towards the majority community. This lopsided and discriminatory approach by an important pillar of democracy tends to divide the society. The media must understand this. The earlier the better. The aggrieved sections of the society are in no mood any more to swallow this.

By the evening of today, it is a matter of satisfaction again, the fire fighting to rectify the mistake and damage control has started in Delhi. The Supreme Court has suo motto intervened and said that ‘it was a serious matter and nobody should try to take shelter under the Supreme Court Orders for political convenience’.  The Administration in Delhi – Lt. Governor, DDA, Police Commissioner were taking recourse to justify the ill-conceived and ill-motivated and faultily executed decision in the name of the courts. Only one question in this regard will make their action hollow. The efficiency shown by the Delhi Administration in implementing the so called order of the Supreme Court in destroying the mandir was unprecedented. The order comes in the evening of August 9 and the mandir is demolished in the morning of August 10.  The GOI through the Minister of Urban development passed the bulk to DDA and Lt. Governor. Home Minister is blissfully ignorant of the happenings and has no time to appreciate the sensitivities of the people who stood by them and contributed considerably to come back to power with an added

majority. No party – the Congress, the Akalis, the BJP, the BSP and others considered it necessary to consider the matter and listen to the management of the Tughlakabad mandir and stand by them while the parliament was in session. After the noises and the Punjab Bandh of today, some of them have woken from the slumber. A delegation of BJP, Akalis and their allies have met the Ministers of Social Justice and Ministers of Urban Development and urged them to reconsider the unjust action by the Delhi Administration. Let us see what happens. I may add here my immediate apprehension that someone might suggest to allot a piece of land for the purpose somewhere else and end the matter. It will be totally unfair and would amount to high-handedness. The traditional and historical character of the Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlakabad should be maintained. The followers of Guru Ravidass should not fall prey to these machinations. There should be no duplicity in dealing with such matters. 

I conclude this open letter with the hope that the Delhi Administration under the GOI will take due note of these things and address the issue with all seriousness and sincerity. The followers of Guru Ravidass, on the other hand, should register their protest and demands with cool and pursue the matter with democratic norms as responsible citizens of the country. The incidents of Mukerian should be not repeated to tarnish the image of the great Guru as he said:

Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara

Jo Hum Sehri so Meet Hamara!

With regards and Greetings on the Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan.

Yours truly,

(Ramesh Chander)

Ambassador – IFS (Retired)

Tele: 9988510940

Guru RavidassMandir at Tughlaqabad in Delhi – An Open Letter

Guru RavidassMandir at Tughlaqabad in Delhi – An Open Letter

Guru RavidassMandir at Tughlaqabad in Delhi is in the news. It has been observed that the media, more so the electronic media and the main stream of the society, has tended to ignore or suppress, unfortunately, the news of the Mandir’s demolition by the GOI/DDA. The followers of Guru Ravidass, particularly in Punjab, are up-in-protest and rightly so. The news, actual as well as fake, is

getting viral on social media. With a view to put the things in perspective, I decided to write this open letter to the concerned authorities in Delhi and my fellow followers of Guru Ravidass and the captains of the civil society as the incidents pertaining to the demolition of the Mandir are likely to have far reaching implications to the social and communal fabric of the country and the society at large.

Dear All,

I am a follower of Guru Ravidass currently living in Jalandhar after a long stint as a career diplomat of India. The demolition of Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlaqabad in Delhi was said to be carried out by the concerned authorities including the DDA on the advice and directions of the Supreme Court. I will not go into the details of the legal aspect of the case. It seems that the legal battles might have been won by the might of the State and the other vested interests involved in the matter. Obviously, the community stakeholders are not only an unorganised lot but also mostly an uneducated and source less belonging to the weaker sections of the society. The traditional marginalisation and inability of the community to defend themselves and save their dignity and respect and also spiritual identity should not go against them in a democratic and secular setup of the country. As far as the legal aspect, it should be suffice to say that it is an established fact that the land in question was granted by the then ruler Sikander Lodhi to Guru Ravidass as Gurudakshina to pay his respect and regards as a matter of gratitude to the great Guru some five hundred years ago. Guru Ravidass, as the common belief is, even stayed at the place and gave the message of equality, fraternity and casteless society, the very edifice of our current constitution. The DDA or any other authority should not go by the unfounded and lopsided fact and argument that the land is a prime location in the capital of India with considerable financial and economic value. It seems, the Manuwadi mindset, does not accept that the socially and financially weak followers of Guru Ravidass should possess such a prime location in the capital of the country. I will tend to agree with regret that the community could not develop the Mandir as it should be because of their inherit weaknesses. But it should not go against them as the constitutional and social responsibility of the government and the society is to bring about social, economic and all-round empowerment of the weaker sections of the society. In this regard, my humble suggestion to the GOI/DDA is to appoint a high-power committee which should include the spiritual, social and political stakeholders from the community to decide the matter keeping in mind the historical aspects as well as the current realities of ‘affirmative action” to empower and strengthen the community to further strengthen the social fabric of the society. It will supplement and compliment the lofty ideal of ‘Samrasta’ professed by the ruling party BJP and its mentors in the RSS. I hasten to add that mere legal or administrative conveniences are not all the time desirable to address emotional and matters of Astha. The mainstream of the society must keep in mind that the Nirmohi Akhada and other stakeholders, as per the media reports, also do not possess any legal/authenticated documents to claim the Ram Janambhoomi in Ajodhya. It should be enough to address the legal aspect of the issue.

Secondly, it is my ardent appeal to the GOI, through the Ministry of Urban Development, DDA and Lt. Governor of Delhi should immediately address the issue before things get worse. The situation, it seems, is already on the boil particularly in Punjab. Kindly don’t wait, as usual, to react after people take law into their own hands. It is a matter of great regret that the community is rudderless and leaderless. The vested interests and anti-social elements might tend to take advantage of the void. Let us take due note of these ground realities before it is too late. The ruling outfit must understand the sensitivities with about 50 MPs out of 84 of the reserved category in their fold. I have not seen or read any public statement by the ruling party’s Ministers or MPs on the demolition of Guru Ravidass Temple at Tughlaqabad.  Are they sleeping or are they waiting for the people to come out on the street to make their feeble voices heard?

I have purposely not gone into the merits or demerits of the case on the basis of facts and figures as it is not the time to argue the matter but find a solution to address the concerns of the followers of Guru Ravidass as equal partners in the country and society at large.

I would like to take this opportunity to advise my fellow followers of Guru Ravidass that like good citizens of the country and worthy followers of the great Guru and our icon BabasahebAmbedkar not to succumb and resort to unconstitutional and violent methods to express and conduct themselves. Let us approach and appeal the GOI and the civil society to address the issue and stop the demolition of the temple at Tughlaqabad with a sense of accommodation and justice.

With all the best wishes and hope that a saner sense will prevail.

Yours truly,

(Ramesh Chander)

Ambassador - IFS (Retired)

Telephone: 9988510940

A humble tribute to Sushma Swaraj

A humble tribute to Sushma Swaraj

Former External Affairs Minister and a political leader by her own right, Sushma Swaraj, is no more. I write this as a humble tribute to her, a worthy daughter of India. I followed her closely from the mid-1970s when she stole the limelight as a young politician and an excellent orator and debater and later as an astute parliamentarian and an able Minister in various governments.

It was a personal pleasure when I got the opportunity to see her closely at work and interact with her on a couple of occasions as the Director of Central Asia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs in the years 1997-2000. Sushma Swaraj was the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. I found her extremely pleasant and courteous to junior officials like me on one hand and a competent and able Minister on the other. One distinction which she brought to the Ministry of External Affairs was that she paid personal attention to the needs

and services to Indians and Indian Diaspora abroad which hitherto was not on the list of priorities of her predecessors. It was appreciated much and rightly so both at home in India and also in foreign lands by the beneficiaries. It will not be out of place to mention with a sense of gratitude that Sushma Swaraj was kind enough to see, read and respond to my humble proposal to declare April 14, birth anniversary of Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar, as the International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN made in 2015 in the wake of the decision by PM Narendra Modi’s government to observe and commemorate the 125^th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. The birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar was celebrated at New York, the Headquarters of the UN in April, 2016 for the first time with the support and directions of EAM Sushma Swaraj and the current EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar who was the then Foreign Secretary and I kept him also on the loop. Next year that is April, 2017, there were reports, mostly

unfounded, spread by some of the vested interests who profess to be the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar but in fact are anti-establishment, that the GOI has advised the Indian PR at the UN not to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Ambedkar. On noticing this, I took the liberty of writing an e-mail to EAM Sushma Swaraj and brought it to her notice and requested her to ensure that the birthday was celebrated at the UN. It was done with all solemnity and grace. It was a matter of great satisfaction. Later, I came to know, informally, that EAM Sushma Swaraj personally directed that the birthday should be celebrated officially by the Indian PR at the UN. We need to pursue the matter further with the public support.

With the demise of Sushma Swaraj, India has lost a dedicated and able politician and also a towering public figure. May God grant peace to the departed soul.

My book – The Bits and Pieces

My book – The Bits and Pieces

It is gratifying to write that my book, The Bits and Pieces – Reminiscences and Reflections of a Novice – was finally released and launched in Jalandhar on July 13, 2019. MLA Sushil Rinku, an upcoming young politician of the region, was the Chief Guest at the book launch which was so planned to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of my marrage with my gracious wife Vidya. A galaxy of my friends from cross sections of the society; intellectuals,

professionals, academics, politicians, social activists namely; Retired IPS and ADGP Malkit Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice Rajinder Kashyap, Principal Jagdish Chander Joshi, Prof. Balbir Chander, Vice President of Punjab BJP Rajesh Bagha, BSP leader Prem Shant, Akali leader Seth Sat Paul, Punjab Lok Manch Secretary General Lekh Raj Nayyar, Social activists Manohar Mahey, Baldev Raj, Ram Lal Dass, Sat Pal Mahey among others participated in the ceremonies and celebrations besides our relations and near and dear ones.

Welcoming the guests, I thanked MLA Sushil Rinku for agreeing to do the honours as the Chief Guest at the function on a short notice as the book was to be released by one of the Ministers in the Central Government at Delhi but he backed out at the eleventh hour.  I may write about this separately, if I feel like doing so. But let me quote an Urdu couplet of the last Mugal King Bahadur Shah Zafar to give you the fore-taste of my ‘would-be’ dispensation on the subject:

zafar' aadmī us ko na jāniyegā vo ho kaisā hī sāhab-e-fahm-o-zakā

jise aish meñ yād-e-ḳhudā na rahī jise taish meñ ḳhauf-e-ḳhudā na rahā

Referring to the book, I said that I did not nurture any notion of an intellectual prowess and considered the book as my spontaneous action and take on matters of interest and concern to the nation and the society at large. As regards the desired impact of the book, I quoted Allma Iqbal to drive my point home:

Dil se jo baat nikalti hai asar rakhti hai; per nahin, taakte perwaz rakhti hai

Thanking my children for organizing festivities on the 50^th anniversary, I expressed my gratitude to our immediate family and added that, with God’s grace, we had no regrets in life. So far so good and again quoted Iqbal, my favourite:

Teri Bandapervari mein mere din guzar rahe hain; Na gila hai doston ka na shikayate zamana.

Thanking the dignitaries on the high-table viz. MLA Sushil Rinku, Prof. Jagdish Chander Joshi, IPS Malkit Singh, Addl. Secretary Rajinder Kashyap and Prof. Balbir Chander for their generosity in speaking high of me and my wife, I again succumbed to the poetic expression of Krishan Bihari Noor:

Intizar aaj ke din ka tha badi muddat se; aaj usne mujhe diwana kaha hai yaaro.

The above mentioned dignitaries in their brief speeches, notwithstanding a fairly longish appraisal of the book made by Prof. Jagdish Chander Joshi, not only presented thought provoking ideas but also made candid observations on the appraisal of Prof. Joshi particularly with regard to his views on Babasaheb Ambedkar. It resulted in a lively interaction for some who were interested in the book and a source of visible irritation for many

who were more inclined to enjoy their drinks and food. Ambassador Bal Anand, who also wrote the Foreword of the book, could not make it to the event but was considerate to send a special message on the occasion which was read by my daughter Vaishali Singh. I will write separately about the appraisal of Prof. Joshi, message of Ambassador Anand and comments and observations made by some of my other highly placed friends. Kindly bear with me. Prof. Balbir Chander presented the Vote of Thanks and a young scion of our family Prof. Mahesh Chander conducted the function ably as the Master of Ceremonies.

I may share here that, it seems, the book has been received well if I go by the response and reaction in the social media and the sale register with the distributors of the book – The Bits and Pieces – Reminiscences and Reflections of a Novice.

Bits and Pieces – As I Please -17

Bits and Pieces – As I Please -17

SomParkash – MoS:It is to congratulate newly appointed MoS SomParkash in the new Council of Ministers of India in the wake of Verdict, 2019. It is a well deserved position by the son of the soil, a low profile but a well meaning politician of the Doaba Region of Punjab. Som Parkash is a self made man and I think he is proud of this. With his sheer stint and good credentials, he

graduated from PCS to IAS and was allotted 1988 batch in the Punjab Cadre. BJP is hungry for good dalit faces. Som Parkash with his down to earth approach fitted the bill and did not look back. BJP picked him and made him contest from the Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituency in 2009 but he could not make it and lost to Santosh Chaudhary of Congress by only a couple of hundred votes. SomParkash showed his mettle and became MLA twice from Phagwara constitutency and served as Chief Parliamentary Secretary in Parkash Singh Badal governments. He won the Hoshiarpur seat with a good margin and made it to PM Narendra Modi’s Team to run the government. It is a matter of gratification that he has been allotted an important desk in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. I am confident that Som Parkash, with a long administrative experience and political sagacity, will deliver and come to the expectations of his bosses and the people. I take this opportunity to wish him well.

On a little personal note, I may add that I have had a single occasion to speak to SomParkash briefly on telephone from abroad in connection with a personal matter when he was the DC of Jalandhar. He may or may not even recall this favour done to me. I must say with a sense of gratitude that the work was done. I found him a reasonably helpful man with a positive outlook.

Vividha – First All India Urdu Mushaira: Vividha – an outfit to ‘Bringing Together the Diversities in Poetry and Music” provided me an opportunity to benefit from the “Irshad – Pehla Kul Hind Mushaira” on June 2 at Jalandhar. It was a satisfying and impressive evening held at an equally prestigious venue – Kundan Lal Saigal Memorial Auditorium. I am grateful to my friends Sangat Ram and Deepak Bali who very kindly invariably tend to

invite me to such cultural events in and around Jalandhar. I was happy to learn that the main motivation behind this noble activity comes from a renowned poet and literary personality, Sardar Khushbir Singh Shaad who happens to be my fellow resident at a condominium – Silver Residency Apartments. The Mushaira was named “Irshaad” very thoughtfully, I think, to demonstrate a sense of gratitude to ‘Shaad Sahib’ – the mind behind the show. It was a well organized event though, due to some unavoidable reasons, it was behind schedule and the audience was not too happy.

The redeeming feature was that the Chief Guest of the function was a well known socio-cultural, apart from politics, personality of Jalandhar Sardar Iqbal Singh. I was at ease to sit with two of my friends – Principal Jagdish Chander Joshi, himself an Urdu poet of a sterling worth and Baldev Singh Narang, a renowned Guru of classical music in and around Jalandhar. I could listen only to a couple of poets in the first hour of the show. They were good for a novice like me. Later, I was told that many good Shayars (Poets) made the audience spell bound with their Shayari (Poetry). I understand Vividha would make it an annual feature in the cultural life of Jalandhar which produced worthy sons of the soil like K.L. Saigal, Hafiz Jalandhary, Jagjeet Singh and Hans Raj Hans to carry forward the mission of historical and legendary Harbhalabh Sangeet Mela. I wish Vividha all the best for all success in the years to come.

While leaving the venue, I purchased three poetry books of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Krishna BihariNoor and Khushbir Singh Shaad from the book stall. I tend to brush up my cursory interest in Urdu poetry through Devnagari or Punjabi script. Gulzar has rightly said:-

बड़ी अरिस्टोक्रेसी है उर्दू जुवां में ,

फ़क़ीरी में नवाबी का मज़ा देती है!

Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs

Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs

Dr. S. Jaishankar – Congratulations – Democracies are intermittently prone to throw surprises. One such surprise or say a wonder of democracy happened on May 30 on the inclusion of Dr. S. Jaishankar in the Cabinet of PM NarendraModi. It is a well deserved appointment, no doubt, but the decision and gesture by NarendraModi and Amit Shah also require applause as an ‘Out of

the Box' move. Dr. Jaishankar, one of the best diplomats of India, has been allocated the most coveted Ministry of External Affairs and rightly so. Is it the beginning of much needed ‘Out of the Box Diplomacy’, visualized by the outgoing EAM SushmaSwaraj and PM NarendraModi in outset of their first term in the government? If it is so, it is a welcome step to meet the challenges of the future and to address the ongoing problems and issues in the realm of India’s relations with the world and particularly with the countries in our neighborhood.  Dr. Jaishakar is singularly suited to undertake and do the job with his vast experience and intellect as one of the best diplomats of India. I wish him all success in the years to come.

When HardeepPuri, yet another senior colleague in the IFS, was appointed MoS in NDA -1 in 2017, I wrote about him which maybe accessed and may be of interest at www.diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/search?q=Hardeep+Puri.

I thought of writing a few lines about Dr. S. Jaishankar too with whom I have had the good fortune to work and interact. I first met him in Colombo, Sri Lanka,sometime in 1987-88 in his office during one of my official trips from Kandy where I was the Second Secretary. I was impressed by his easy demeanor with a baby face look. I must say with haste that talking to him was satisfying professionally and otherwise. I followed him in Tokyo in 2000. He had left for his first Ambassadorial assignment in Prague. But Tokyo was full of him both in the Embassy and outside, a competent professional with a humane face. He was, as Deputy

Chief of Mission, the leader of the Embassy team to face and deal with the resentment and anger of Japan, both the people and the government, to India’s nuclear tests in 1998-99.  Dr. Jaishankar was respected in Tokyo not only as an excellent diplomat but also a simple and straight human being. It was my good fortune that my association with Dr. Jaishankar was destined. From Tokyo, I was posted to Prague, Czech Republic as a Counselor where he was the Ambassador of India. I did not contact him on account of some non-professional reasons which I will not like to write here. But I know that Dr. Jaishankar was fully briefed, good or bad, about me by one of my immediate bosses in Tokyo. I kept Ambassador Jaishankar informed of my travel plans and joining them at Prague through my colleague and friend K.R. Chari, whom I affectionately called Raja, ever since we both joined MEA in March, 1970. On reaching Prague sometime in January, 2004, I met Ambassador Jaishankar in his office. He received me with warmth and extended all the professional courtesies and made me at ease. I was one of his admirers in the service. His stock in my mind went up and high in the background of my presumed briefings from Tokyo.  I found Dr. Jaishankar a through professional in his work and a fine human being in social and personal etiquette. He occasionally briefed the senior diplomats about the current issues and he adviced the course of action in the process of the Embassy’s work. He also kept the supporting staff in good humour and interacted with them. I being his Deputy as No.2 of the Embassy as a Counselor and later Minister, Ambassador Jaishankar treated me very kindly and gave me free hand to handle the assigned desk. I vividly remember when he invited us to India House in Prague to watch a cricket match between India and Pakistan as most of us did not have Sky TV facilities at our residences. While we were watching the match, he along with his domestic help, a young boy whom Ambassador Jaishankar liked very much, slipped out quietly and brought loads of Dominos Pizzas and coke for a handy lunch. I cherish that hospitable gesture of my honourable boss, Dr. S. Jaishankar.

As regards his thinking on the foreign policy of India in the coming years, just before his appointment as the EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar  said, while speaking at the book launch of ‘Indian Foreign Policy : The Modi Era’ of Harsh Pant, that the country will have to position itself by optimising ties with all the major players which include “cultivating America, steadying Russia, managing China, enthusing Japan and attending to Europe”.  The challenges are big and complex. Let us wish our man at the helm, Dr. S. Jaishankar all the best in his new assignment as the EAM of India.

The Dance of Democracy – Peoples Verdict - 2019

The Dance of Democracy – Peoples Verdict - 2019

The final act of The Dance of Democracy has been staged. The people’s verdict is in hand – with the decisive victory of Narendra Modi under the aegis of BJP and its allies. On the day of voting, after casting my vote, I posted in my Facebook time line, “Participated in the Dance of Democracy with a sense of regret and dissatisfaction. The political class has failed us

and our democratic edifice by unleashing an acrimonious and dirty campaign annulling all norms of a good democratic system which our forefathers envisioned.” It was to register my dissatisfaction over the undignified and avoidable acrimonious electioneering.  That stage was over. May be in the process, we attain maturity to further cement our democratic edifice in the days to come. There is no other way.

Today, May 23, the day of counting of votes, it has become clear by the afternoon that The Peoples Verdict has favoured Narendra Modi and his allies to run the country for the next five years with a clear majority. From apolitical perspective of a common man, I posted in the Facebook, “The 2019 elections have clearly indicate, to my mind, that the concept of Bahujan Samaj and also a joint front of Minorities, OBCs and Dalits, has lost its relevance. It is just a quick byte from a novice. 

Joining the main stream of the society under the lofty ideals of just and equitable order .i.e. Samrasta is the only way. The marginalized sections of the society and their leadership are required to undergo a deep introspection to respond to the challenges of the future.”

Meanwhile, Narendra Modi has said in a Twitter message on the Peoples Verdict, 2019 and reiterated his vision for the new dispensation: “Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat,”

सबका साथ + सबका विकास + सबका विश्वास = विजयी भारत

Let us wish the new incoming government elected by the people all success in the years to come.”